Project Management Resourcing – An Impossible Mission or Mission Impossible?
Author – Darren Cave
I’m not sure if you have noticed, but there is something of a perfect talent storm brewing in the engineering, project management and infrastructure sector. We are heading to extremely low levels of unemployment, skilled migration is more challenged than ever and employees are considering their future opportunities as the ongoing fallout from COVID changes the way in which we work and we want to work. This presents challenges when you are looking to add high quality, skilled professionals to your team.
Specialised knowledge can be very beneficial, particularly in large and complicated projects, since experts in various specialties can provide valuable services, but in a tight labour market, how should you approach adding the resources you need? Many businesses who do not have the resources on hand or who require additional expertise, need to consider whether an internally hired resource or an external contractor is best, in terms of short/medium and long-term cost, quality and efficiency.
And based on the current market, the choice is Impossible Mission or Mission Impossible.
Here are five reasons on why external contractors can be a better choice for your company.
1. Consultants and Contractors are flexible
Engaging consultants and contractors allows your business more flexibility than if we were to hire new, permanent employees. Most contractors work on odd engagements; short and sharp or ad-hoc; only when needed. Rather than bringing them on for long term work, contractors make a perfect solution for project style work, where there is a defined start and end date.
Ramping up with contractors is a good way to keep your momentum going, as the time it takes to bring on a contract resource is much less than bringing on a full-time employee. When project work starts to slow down, you don’t have to consider redundancies, you simply wind down your external contracts. Contractors do not have an expectation of ongoing engagement from a client.
2. Contractors are focused
Now, let me clarify that this can’t be said for every consultant or contractor, but I can say that it is true of the team that I am lucky to work with.
Consultants and contractors are focused. They are determined to get results and do not coast.
In a time when labour costs are one of the largest expenses in many companies’ operating model, our leadership team are focused on driving the highest possible return on investment to meet rapidly shifting customer demands. We boost company productivity with on-demand contract solutions implementing specialised skills, people who understand their performance is monitored daily and watched closely. Sounds ominous, but most high performing contractors actually thrive in this environment.
At Lidiar Group, we do not have the expectation of an ongoing commitment, regardless of the value that the client receives. Our clients agree to pay us a certain amount for an engagement, valuing our drive, motivation, speed, and efficiency. Each time they authorise an invoice, they assess their return on that investment; our cost performance; evaluating the value of our work for the money they paid.
Our team is focused on the assignment at hand, and committed to adding as much value as possible from project start to completion. Our combined professional experience allows us to provide our clients with smart, agile and efficient solutions.
3. Consultants and Contractors are adaptable and hit the ground running
After a few hours into delivering a package of contracts and procurement works for a major oil and gas player, our client commented to the Senior Associate engaged to undertake the work, “Wow, you’ve made a great start already. I wasn’t really expecting anything out of you for a few days.” He went on to elaborate that usually when he brings people into the team, they take a little while to get the lay of the land, get their head around what the role is and gauge the expectations of the leaders and work through what in the world they have to do.
Contractors are agile and are quick to adapt to new environments. The most clients that I have worked with in a day was six – client meetings; cost estimate reviews; project correspondence and resource allocations. We are used to identifying what needs to be done; the steps required to deal with all the tasks successfully and have insights into possible bottlenecks based on specialised experience.
4. Consultants and Contractors are bold and courageous
Consultants and Contractors have a solutions-focused mindset and can hone in on what needs to be addressed quickly. Consultants are used to managing risks responsibly and dynamically. We are able to objectively look at the business and are generally able to avoid being caught up in company politics. Internal staff may find it more difficult to make tough decisions when necessary due to their existing position and contacts within the company.
5. Contractors improve your team’s skillset
By strategically outsourcing some project processes, you can complete your team’s skill set. For instance, if your team checks out nine out of ten expertise boxes, by outsourcing the one skill they lack, you have bridged the skills gap, helping everyone excel.
Ultimately, the decision regarding an internal hire or engaging an external consultant will depend on your company’s internal structure and needs, however, experience in the field should always be a prime consideration.
The benefits of outsourcing to Lidiar Group can be incredibly advantageous as we have a genuine understanding of the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors. By choosing an external consultant with significant proficiency in the industry, where we put our desk won’t matter so much.
In summary, contractors should be seen like the ensembles put together in movies such as Mission Impossible or The Dirty Dozen; temporary team members who are highly specialised, highly focused and committed to meeting the ultimate goal of a project using their abilities, skills and knowledge to get results. For businesses they provide on-demand skills, flexibility and resources, complimenting your core business without the challenges of hiring or ensuring continual employment when the need for their specialism comes to an end.
About Lidiar Group
Lidiar Group is a collective of key individuals across a diverse range of management, professional and engineering backgrounds offering services in the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors.
Our Purpose: to connect and empower our clients by energising and strengthening their capabilities.
Our flexible, scalable service offering supports companies to provide their own services at a higher level without commitment to a large quantity and cost of overheads.